Traci Donley, center, hugs her son, Landon Donley, 12, as Dana Broeder, right, hugs her son, Clayton Broeder, 12, after the Pearland Little League players arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport from the Little League World Series Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, in Houston.

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

Traci Donley, center, hugs her son, Landon Donley, 12, as Dana...

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Traci Donley and Dana Broeder, both mothers of Pearland Little League players, are among a group greeting the team as they arrive to George Bush Intercontinental Airport from the Little League World Series Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, in Houston.

"Way to go, Pearland, way to go!" yelled another, as 10 boys clad in their jerseys and caps tromped through the arrival gates.

It was the culmination of a storied season, the second time in five years that the south Houston-area city sent a team to the Little League World Series. The team was eliminated Tuesday, placing them fourth among U.S. teams and seventh overall.

He plans to savor the memories of the last two weeks. One of the most exciting experiences came when they played the Taney Dragons, best-known for their female pitcher Mon'e Davis, who was recently featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

A special pitcher

When the Pearland East All-Stars earned a hit, or scored, the cheers and noise sounded like "whispering," Sliwinski said. When Mo'ne came up to the plate, it was a different story.

There was the crowd, for one - more than 30,000, compared to the 50 or so spectators from his everyday little games.

And there was the noise.

"When she got that hit, it was like a walk-off grand slam in the World Series," he said.

He grabbed his bags, and moments later, he and the rest of his teammates walked out of the airport, to waiting cars, and the final hour-long drive back to Pearland.

He and the other players were ready to finally relax.

"It's been a long day," said 13-year-old Presley Smith, the pink U-shaped pillow he'd used to doze during the two flights home still wrapped around his neck.

"I'm ready to go home," he said, before pausing for a moment. "But kind of not. I kind of wish I was back in Pennsylvania."